Steering-wheel lock.



C. H. FRITSGHE.

STEERING WHEEL LOCK. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 5, 1914.

1 12 782 Patented-Oct. 6, 1914.

@am z m Suva Jot CHESTER HENRY FRITSCHE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

' STEERING-WHEEL LOCK.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

Application filed March 5, 1914. Serial No. 822,559.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER HENRY Fnrrscnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteering-Wheel Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in steering wheel locks and theleading object of the invention is the provision of means which willpositively prevent the improper use or theft of the vehicle orautomobile with which the device is attached.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a lock which will beapplied to the steeringrod casing and which will lock the steering rodand which will not in the least interfere with its proper function ormar or detract from the appearance of the steering rod or casing.

Another ob ect of of my invention is the provision of means which can beapplied with ease and at a very small cost and which will be thoroughlyefficient for the intended purposes and entirely practical in everyparticular.

lVith these objects in view, my invention consists of a steering wheellock embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts,substantially as shown, described and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a steering wheel and tube orcasing provided with my locking mechanism, the parts being in theposition they occupy when the steering wheel is locked. Fig. representsa view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the parts inlocked position. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of the steeringwheel casing or tube, and the steering rod, with the locking mechanismthrown out of use, or in unlocked position, and F 4 represents aperspective view of the locking mechanism removed.

The letter A designates the steering wheel, to which is connected thetubular steering rod B, which fits in the tubular casing C, the

steering rod being provided with an clongated opening I), which isadapted to aline or register with the elongated opening E, of thetubular casing C. The openings of the rod and easing are of the sameWidth, but the opening of the steering rod is somewhat longer than thatof the casing, and to the casing adjacent one end of the opening issecured by fastenings F, the ear or lug G, which is hinged at H, to thelock casing J, which is provided with the catch K, op- .erated by asuitable key L, and adapted to form a locking engagement between theopenings D and E, and between the steering rod and easing, as clearlyshown in Fig. When the machine is in use the lock is thrown back upon.its hinge, as shown in Fig. 3, which permits of the ready turning of thesteering wheel with its rod, but when necessary to lock the steering rodin-its casing, the lock is thrown into the alincd open ings of the rodand casing as shown in Fig. 2, locking the steering rod to the casingand absolutely preventing the turning of the wheel, aswill be readilyunderstood. The lock is released by the insertion of the key, and thewithdrawal of the catch K, and locked automati ally when thrown into theopenings 1) and E, as is evident. It will be seen that the slots of thecasing and steer ing bar register or alinc and that the slot of thecasing is shorter than that of the bar to form a keeper at one (and ofthe slots, which keeper is engaged b the spring catch in the lockcasing, which construction is of great importa nce.

I claim:

In combination with the steering rod ha ving a slot, an inclosing casinghaving a short slot communicating with the slot of the rod to allow oneedge of the walls of said slots to form a keeper, :1 pla e secured tothe wall of the casing at one end of its slot, a lock casing hinged atone end io'said plate and adapted to fit in the opening formed by saidslots to retain the casing and rod, and a spring catch in said casing toengage the keeper at the other end of said slots to secure the rod andcasing together.

In tcsl'imonv whereof l aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

(lHI lSilER HENRY FRITSCHE.

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VILEDA Hvon. R. 1*]. Krrcnmo,

